Once again, North America has spawned a mighty fine atmospheric black metal outfit, this time a two piece going by the name Oceansnow. Although the members don’t wish to be identified, they wear their influences on their sleeves. The press release proudly states……
G enerated from the Rocky Mountains ravines comes Oceansnow.
E verything on their debut album Vivienne is performed by two musicians.
N either of whom desires to be known.
E nter their realm of luxury, minimalism, drugs and theft.
V isit and wander places from a long-lost past.
I nhale the scent of blood sacrifices to the pagan gods.
E xhale, and find solace in a
V elvety, atmospheric black metal cocoon.
E scape this world for good.
…..and I am pretty certain this is a thinly veiled reference to the legendary (in underground circles!), long since disbanded US atmospheric black metal outfit Velvet Cacoon and their seminal album ‘Genevieve’. Oceansnow certainly has a lot in common with Velvet Cacoon musically, and there are even striking similarities between the two album covers with black and white images of a misty forest. However, rather than go on about the similarities between the two bands, I’ll focus on Oceansnow and ‘Vivienne’.
This album comprises seven tracks (if you include ‘Astrosporina’, the CD bonus track) of raw atmospheric black metal. Raw and atmospheric may sound like an oxymoron, but I stand by this description. Let me explain. It is undoubtedly black metal – howling, vitriolic vocals perch atop abrasive, buzzing guitar riffs, but there are also sweeping, epic melodies nestled beneath the maelstrom which are occasionally given space to breath. There is an overarching air of melancholy, grief and sorrow as the album builds and to my mind this album should be considered one piece of music rather than discrete tracks, and for this reason I’m not going to dissect the album track by track.
Hopefully I’ve convinced you that this is atmospheric black metal, but rather than being polished like many releases in this subgenre, this album retains a raw feel. Not necessarily in a kult, terrible production kind of way, but enough to give it an organic feel and this works really well in terms of the atmosphere it creates. Hence, raw atmospheric black metal. Anyway, I’m rambling but hopefully I’ve piqued your interest.
This is not a casual listen, not one for singing along to in the car, rather this is an immersive experience and the more attention you give it, the more it will give back to you, Well worth the effort and tracking down a copy.
(8.5/10 Andy Pountney)
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